Grading in Denmark

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In Denmark, the educational system has historically used a number of different systems of grading student performances, several of which are described below. The current grading system is the 13-scale (13-skalaen), having been used since its introduction in 1963.

1 Previous scales
2 Reference/external link

[edit] Previous scales

[edit] 1788: Latin scale

The Latin scale had five steps:

Laudabilis præ ceteris
Laudabilis
Haud illaudabilis
Non contemnendus
0

0 was an outright failing grade - there was a limitation of the number of non contemendus there could be in a passing student's examination. The highest grade, laudabilis præ ceteris was explicitly named a grade for exceptional purposes only.

[edit] 1805: Ørsted scale

The first version of the Ørsted scale had six steps:

Ug - udmærket godt - excellently good (numeral value: 8)
Mg - meget godt - very good (7)
G - godt - good (5)
Tg - temmelig godt - pretty good (1)
Mdl - mådeligt - all right (−7)
Slet - bad (−23)

A student could not pass an exam if he/she had got mdl in Danish essay or Latin or slet in Latin essay.

In 1845 the numeral values were added in order to enable the calculation of an average grade - also the g was named the minimum passing grade.

[edit] 1871: Extended Ørsted scale

In 1871 the Ørsted scale was extended with plus and minus-steps, and numeral values were added accordingly.

Ug (8)
Ug− (7⅔)
Mg+ (7⅓)
Mg (7)
Mg− (6⅓)
G+ (5⅔)
G (5)
G− (3⅔)
Tg+ (3⅓)
Tg (1)
Tg− (−1⅔)
Mdl+ (−4⅓3)
Mdl (−7)
Mdl− (−12⅓)
Slet+ (−17⅔)
Slet (−23)

The g was still the minimum passing grade.

[edit] 1903: Numeral scale

In 1903 the Ørsted-scale was scrapped for a numeral one, with five steps:

8 and 0 was - like laudabilis præ ceteris, an exception grade. You would fail if you had two or more zeroes in your exam.

[edit] 1911: New numeral scale

In 1911 another numeral scale was introduced:

4 was the minimum passing grade.

[edit] 1919: Extended Ørsted scale

In 1919 the extended Ørsted scale returned, with numerals.

[edit] 1943: Modified extended Ørsted scale

This version, introduced in 1943, changed the numerals (essentially by adding 7 to the former numbers) and removed the mdl−- and slet+-grades:

Ug (15)
Ug− (14⅔)
Mg+ (14⅓)
Mg (14)
Mg− (13⅓)
G+ (12⅔)
G (12)
G− (10⅔)
Tg+ (9⅓)
Tg (8)
Tg− (5⅓)
Mdl+ (2⅔)
Mdl (0)
Slet (−16)

[edit] 1963: 13-scale

The 13-scale is the current scale. The scale started out as a relative scale but has since its introduction in 1963 changed to an absolute scale at all levels of education.

13 - given for the exceptionally independent and excellent performance.
11 - given for the independent and excellent performance
10 - given for the excellent but not particularly independent performance
9 - given for the good performance, a little above average
8 - given for the average performance
7 - given for the mediocre performance, slightly below average
6 - given for the just acceptable performance
5 - given for the hesitant and not satisfactory performance
03 - given for the very hesitant, very insufficient and unsatisfactory performance
00 - given for the completely unacceptable performance

The gaps between 00 & 03, 03 & 5 and 11 & 13 are there to signify a larger difference between those grades. The leading 0 in 00 and 03 is used to prevent fraud with grades. The lowest passing grade is 6 and 00, 03 and 5 are failing grades.

The highest grade 13 and the lowest grade 00 are the grades most rarely given.

00 is nearly impossible to achieve, presuming one knows even a single fact taught in that particular class, it is given for the truly incompetent performance. At exams, 00 is given to absentees.

13 is a fairly rare grade outside of exams and requires a performance way beyond the expected.

The average of grades given in Danish secondary schools in 2003 was 8.22.

[edit] 2006: 7-step-scale

Starting with the academic year 2006-07, a new scale will be introduced (colloquially dubbed the 12-scale, 7-step-scale within the education environment), designed to be compatible with the ECTS-scale: